has any one else made some ladder bars? and if so how long did you make them and how well did they work? on mine we found the balancing point of the truck, and with the motor and me sitting in it is about 8 inches behind the fender. that is how long my ladder bars are.just got them in along with the 9 inch and coil over kit. but havent got to to drive it yet and just wondering if any one else has made them that long and how well they worked. i got sick of just spining and wasting all the power. at first i just had the stock rear end welded up and that helped but sure didnt fix the problem. what is your opinion?

i went to take pics tonight but the wife said she left the camera at work, so as soon as she brings it home i will post pics! but in the mean time the ladder bars measure 65 1/2" long if that helps to give you an idea?

Hey Mouse, are you using some kind of floater or slider on your springs? If not they will bind up the suspension. The leaf is going to try to keep the axle in one arc of motion, and the ladder will try to keep it in a different arc. If you don't have a floater or slider, it will bind up and not move. I'd recommend some coilovers now.

there are numerous things wrong with those ladder bars/frame notch, safety issues as well. If you want pm me and I will give you my cell and we can discuss it if you want. If that were my truck I wouldnt even drive it down the driveway. Not hatin on ya. But I think you need some direction, I applaud your effort, But I see some serious safety/strength issues. As well as major traction issues in your future.

Rick, yes i am running floaters.Bgblock, they are made from 4140, and i got them from Applied Racing Technology.I also measured mine the other day and they are 31" long.I finally got my truck to the track last Friday, and they seemed to be working like they should be. Truck left straight and true, even with the initial settings i made to them at the house.

Hello forum I read all of the stickies on the home made ladder bars issue and just wanted to ask....how would traction bars work any diffrent in comparing them w/ladder bars with leaf springs. any better or worse for a daily driver vehical.

Traction bars simply prevent spring wrap up, ladder bars actually define rear axle motion. When using ladders with leafs, the arc of the ladder bars motion is different than the arc of the leaf springs, so without floaters, they just bind up. IMHO, if you run ladders or a 4 link, you should invest in some coilovers. Floaters and leaf springs work, but they add unsprung weight, friction, and the whole package weighs much more than a ladder and coilover system.

scarecrow wrote:get the doorslamers handbook, it is the best chassi book out there for drag set ups all your ansewers are there

I agree its a great book. And Dave's seminars are even better. But that book will do him no good with the setup he has.

the book would help him. not only does it define ladder bars, 4 links,leaf springs and it also explains lift points, why, and what of aplications and everything else about chassis although it wont tell you how to do yours, it tells you everything you need to know about them so you can make your own decissions about your aplication. like spring weight, weight transfer,what to avoid,what you want to acomplish,and how to acomplish it by tuning your chassi and many many more usefull things, it has all your math for the job,and where to use the math and why. I'm telling you that you cant go wrong with the book. it will answer questions you never thought to ask